Genre: Drama/ Thriller
Runtime: 128 minutes
Year: 1958
Starring: James Stewart, Kim Novak, Barbara Bel Geddes, Tom Helmore
Description: Retired San Francisco detective John “Scottie” Ferguson, suffering from acrophobia, investigates the strange activities of an old friend's wife, all the while becoming dangerously obsessed with her.
Review: James Stewart returns in an Alfred Hitchcock movie after starring in “Rear Window” in 1954. He plays detective John Ferguson, Scottie for friends. He suffers from acrophobia, which keeps him from doing his job. His lady friend Midge is caring and intelligent, but can’t charm him. When an old friend asks Scottie to follow his wife Madeleine, because he thinks she’s in danger, he becomes obsessed with her. The viewers get sucked in in his fantasy, a psychological thriller that, at that point, is no longer a thriller. But that’s where Hitchcock’s inventiveness come in.
Even though “Vertigo” lacks horror elements as seen in “Psycho”, the movie works towards a climax. Layers are added to the film, that keep it interesting. Hitchcock’s view on the man-woman relationship reaches its highlight in “Vertigo”. ‘Truth is in the eye of the beholder’ is the only positive thing when it comes to romance. Friend Midge keeps her feelings for Scottie safely hidden, but is rejected when trying to interfere with his love life. Scottie himself tries to re-create the woman of his dreams. It’s all very stylishly made, even with some psychedelic special effects.
“Vertigo” isn’t the Hitchcock movie with the most tension and excitement. It’s most of all the settlement of a platinum blonde femme fatale and the men that will do anything for her.
Rating: 4/ 5
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